Kids in a FJ60 - Middle Row Seatbelt Options

[xeuxaz]

For those that use these rigs with kids, what have been your concerns? I'm considering an FJ60 as a "Family Classic" but have concerns about safely securing child car seats in the second row. As far as I know, these only came with lap belts, which limits options for forward-facing seats. Has anyone retrofitted the middle row with 3-point belts? Curious what solutions exist for adding shoulder belts, ideally without major fabrication. Open to hearing what’s worked, especially if it keeps things clean and functional.

Appreciate any insight or examples.

 

[bcolvin]

For those that use these rigs with kids, what have been your concerns? I'm considering an FJ60 as a "Family Classic" but have concerns about safely securing child car seats in the second row. As far as I know, these only came with lap belts, which limits options for forward-facing seats. Has anyone retrofitted the middle row with 3-point belts? Curious what solutions exist for adding shoulder belts, ideally without major fabrication. Open to hearing what’s worked, especially if it keeps things clean and functional.

Appreciate any insight or examples.

There are a number of us in that same boat. I put three point belts in the back. There are a bunch of threads on this but if you are lucky and have a later model year you may have a hole that will allow you to just attach a three point system. I’m would dig up some threads on this and will give you an idea. One trick is to use a needle and poke through the headliner to see if you have a threaded hole. If not it is still totally doable but more involved.

That is one issue the other that for me is a larger concern is the lack of head rests in the rear. My nine year olds head is totally above the seat so a rear ending could have some big consequences. I live in Colorado but I bought a 62 rear seat that I will be swapping in Virginia. My pick up is only about 1,500 miles away :/ . There has been a ton of innovations done in this community so I hope that one of these inventors can come up with a retrofit kit for a 60 seat. I have seen one fix that involves a 2x4 but I’m not really sure thrilled about that option.

I would definitely search around for threads on this.

 

[DFXR]

For those that use these rigs with kids, what have been your concerns? I'm considering an FJ60 as a "Family Classic" but have concerns about safely securing child car seats in the second row. As far as I know, these only came with lap belts, which limits options for forward-facing seats. Has anyone retrofitted the middle row with 3-point belts? Curious what solutions exist for adding shoulder belts, ideally without major fabrication. Open to hearing what’s worked, especially if it keeps things clean and functional.

Appreciate any insight or examples.

Been in the same boat and @bcolvin summed it up well. There are a number of threads that explain the “threaded hole” possibility for 60s, which would give you a short path to 3 point belts.

I was lucky to have the threaded holes on the pillar in back, and added 3-points from Seatbelt Planet to the two outer seats in the rear. Center is still a lap belt.

These shoulder belts look pretty factory and are an easy upgrade, but are far from modern - they are non-retractable and once your kids get tall enough (meaning out of car seats and boosters) for them to work well, you’ll be ready to start worrying about headrests.

Headrests in back did not show up until the 62, so you’ll have to source a used 62 rear seat back as mentioned. They are out there and not always as $$$ as you’d think, but the odds that you find one anywhere near home and in the right color are slim.

Now that my son is 12 he rides up front and it obv feels a lot better. His little sister (8) is in back with an upgraded belt, but she’s not quite tall enough to be in head rest territory yet. That will change very soon.

I don’t put anyone in the rear center, unless we’re on a mellow dirt road without other vehicles.

And of course my 60 is not a DD.

As far as concerns go - plenty of us survived childhood in center seats and lap belts, or even just flopping around in the back of a country squire. But it’s still a calculated risk to drive your family in an older vehicle with retrofitted safety features. That’s a call only the parents can make.

Long story short - the ideal set up for you will be sourcing a 62 seat back with head rests and adding three point belts back there, assuming you’ve got the right bolt hole.

 

[cps432]

The fj60 bench seat is a coffin filler.

I pulled my rear seat and I’m using the extra space for storage and an extended platform. I would never put a passenger in the rear seat of an fi60 in the stock configuration. Certainly not children.

 

[bcolvin]

I guess I really don't see it quite as bad as @cps432. I think if you can address the seat belt situation and headrests you will be in good shape. Unless there is something else that I have not considered with the seats. Again, I think this issue is ripe for an aftermarket solution that can connect a headrest to the rear seat frame.

 

[cruisermatt]

I survived growing up in the back seat of a 60 series just fine. Well mostly fine anyways

 

[78Mustard]

There are a number of us in that same boat. I put three point belts in the back. There are a bunch of threads on this but if you are lucky and have a later model year you may have a hole that will allow you to just attach a three point system. I’m would dig up some threads on this and will give you an idea. One trick is to use a needle and poke through the headliner to see if you have a threaded hole. If not it is still totally doable but more involved.

That is one issue the other that for me is a larger concern is the lack of head rests in the rear. My nine year olds head is totally above the seat so a rear ending could have some big consequences. I live in Colorado but I bought a 62 rear seat that I will be swapping in Virginia. My pick up is only about 1,500 miles away :/ . There has been a ton of innovations done in this community so I hope that one of these inventors can come up with a retrofit kit for a 60 seat. I have seen one fix that involves a 2x4 but I’m not really sure thrilled about that option.

I would definitely search around for threads on this.

@bcolvin I have the 62 rear seat in my 60 and it's perfect for my 8 year old twins (see photo) and adds a bit of comfort for me (and my wife) on the times the kids are in the car.

 

[bcolvin]

Do you know if the fabric for the 60 can be used for the 62 seat in case I want to switch colors?

 

[78Mustard]

Do you know if the fabric for the 60 can be used for the 62 seat in case I want to switch colors?

I believe the fabric is the same; I'm sure someone will chime in here if I'm incorrect

 

[cps432]

I survived growing up in the back seat of a 60 series just fine. Well mostly fine anyways

Survivors bias.

Tell that to the people who died in bench seats with lap belts in fender benders for decades through all makes and models. There’s a reason why modern regulations and safety standards exist. (I grew up in 66 Mustang and 66 F100 so I’m right there with everyone else)

I guess I really don't see it quite as bad as @cps432. I think if you can address the seat belt situation and headrests you will be in good shape. Unless there is something else that I have not considered with the seats. Again, I think this issue is ripe for an aftermarket solution that can connect a headrest to the rear seat frame.

I’m not saying at all that you can’t make the 60 bench seat safer. You absolutely can. But if I had a young family and wanted to go on trips with my children I would chose a different vehicle or get a 62 with the upgraded safety features.

Maybe I am biased. I am on an OSHA complaint safety team at my factory and I look for safety issues in everything I do all day.

 

[mdw83fj60]

Do you know if the fabric for the 60 can be used for the 62 seat in case I want to switch colors?

That’s what I did, the 62 rear seat I got was brown so I switched my original 60 grey fabric onto the 62 seat. Fit perfectly.

 

[xeuxaz]

Thanks to everyone who shared info and personal experience. This has been incredibly helpful. I’ve looked into Seatbelt Planet's 3-point kits for the FJ60. The quality looks solid, and I appreciate those of you who confirmed fitment and shared part numbers. Knowing that the C pillar has factory threads makes the idea of a retrofit more approachable, and it’s great to hear about the FJ62 interior swaps for a cleaner install. That said, the safety concerns some of you mentioned hit home. As much as I love the idea of running a classic rig like this, I am now struggling to justify compromising on my kids’ safety. The lack of factory 3-point belts and proper tether or anchor points makes it a hard sell for regular family use. (Camping, Offroading, light Towing, etc.)

Where would one even begin to source a second-row FJ62 seat for the headrests? (Quick searching on ,eBay etc doesn't show much) The particular 60 I was interested in is a MY86, which would be missing the threaded C pillar based on some additional reading. I'm pretty bummed about this.

 

[cps432]

You can find seats in the classified section of this forum. People part out 62’s all the time.

Be patient. You will find a good FJ62 out there that ticks all the boxes.

 

[cps432]

Parting Out...

Complete vehicles or large collections of parts...when your list is long!

forum.ih8mud.com

Also…

FJ60 | FJ62 | BJ60 | HJ61

Classifieds : Toyota 60-series / 61-series / 62-series Land Cruiser

forum.ih8mud.com

Keep your eyes peeled and keep researching.

 

[CruiserTrash]

I'm in the middle of all this right now. My kids are 13 and 17 and they're in the truck frequently since it's a daily driver. Statistically, modern vehicles are much safer in crash tests, and I don't doubt that translates to on-road safety in most cases (but not all). On the other hand, I could turn my house into a fortress and never let my kids leave so they never get hurt. Life is about an acceptable level of risk. Hell, way back wolves would just come into your cave and make a snack out of your youngins. It's always been this way so choose your own adventure. I wouldn't put my kids on the back of a motorcycle, for example, but plenty of people do it all the time. Life's a gray area.

Seat Belt Planet 3-point retractable belts. I'm having to fab a bracket to attach them the way I want, cleanly with a factory look. I've thought about producing extras and selling them.

I've got a 62 seat back that I had sand blasted and spray painted. I have color-matched headrest that came out of the front seats of a 62, and I'll put my existing upholstery over the 62 seat back.

Center is staying the original lap belt.

Personally, this is very acceptable by me. Modern retractable belts, well anchored, plus appropriate-height headrests. This makes the most common types of crashes - low- and mid-speed collisions much, much safer. In a high speed crash where somebody is going fast enough to alter the shape of the vehicle, the differences between modern side curtain airbags and an old steel vehicle with frame mount sliders at Subaru-bumper-height become smaller. Anyway that's my take on safety that nobody asked for.

 

[bcolvin]

As far as the 62 seats go they have been a pain for me to find. They guy I am picking them up from does have more. He said the condition wasn't as good as the one I am getting. Additionally, if you end up purchasing a cruiser there will be a SH@T ton of other maintenance to do and that will keep you busy until you find the seats anyhow. Unless you buy one of those fancy already fixed up 60's.... which would be cool but not how most go through this process.

I don't exactly rely on my 60 for everything. I drive it to work a couple days a week, take it fishing, hunting etc. It makes me happy and it is a great valley vehicle around here.

 

[dbbowen]

I too daily drive my 60. Right now my daughter is rear facing still but reaching the limit. I have test fit her carseat forward facing and i can use the tether strap onto the hinge of the back of the seat so that will hold me over until I can source a FJ62 rear seat. I have also been having issues finding a fj62 rear seat.... but when i do i will be getting it refoamed, reupholstered, and also finding other larger headrests that have the same post spacing that fit in the seat holes.

I installed OEM 3 point seatbelts in the rear seats and all of the trim from the fj62 and the rust farmers, but i use the car seat in the middle row with the lap belt because the oem seatbelts dont lock when you fully retract them, and i feel like the center position of the back seat is the safest from side impact. I have the car seat cinched down as far at it will humanly go and the rear seat bottom and back foam is completely flattened when you remove the car seat so theyll both need to be replaced anyways once she goes to a booster seat.

like @cruisermatt I too grew up in 1980s toyotas, and survived a double roll over in a celica supra in my youth haha